Using mirrors to make an upright display on a cocktail cab! (IS IT MADNESS?)

[rackoon]

Yea I know (just build an upright). Well I cant until my game room is finished (2 years from now) I am not willing to wait that long.

    Here is the problem, driving games (which I love) don't work well on cocktails because a steering wheel, on a cocktail cab, is real hard to see over. All other games, I can hunch over the cab, while I play for hours, (like I often do in the local pizza joint). I also rest my elbows on my knees for support; It reduces fatigue.
 
    Regardless, WHAMMOED has pointed out that tilting a monitor 45 degrees  could cause a problem with the monitor. (I'm 36 and have spent my whole youth playing every video game known to man) SO DON'T CALL ME A FREAK! (I still remember the first upright game I ever saw, Space Invaders <I had to be dragged away because I was instantly addicted.>

    Anyway, LILWOLF suggested that I use a mirror to create an upright display made of mirrors in order to see the display, (great idea). And. infact, it works great, if the mirror is at a 45 angle. This will work pretty good BUT, slightly awkward.

    THIS SITE HAS SO MANY GOOD THINKERS THAT I THOUGHT I COULD GET SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO IMPROVE ON THE IDEA OF JUST USING A MIRROR AT A 45 ANGLE.
   
    WHAT COULD I USE THAT IS LIGHTER THAN GLASS? (maybee a funhouse mirror that magnifies) Where could I get one?

   COULD I SOME HOW ELIMINATE THE 45 ANGLE. (it does change perspective a little)

   AND AGAIN, DOES EVERYTHING TASTE LIKE CHICKEN OR, DOES CHICKEN TASTE LIKE EVERYTING?

[NoOne=NBA=]

You'd probably be alot better off sandwiching a piece of window tint between two pieces of acrylic for this.
What I'm thinking here is basically like a see-thru copier lid.
(Frame around all sides, with the middle being the acrylic/tint).

If you put the shiny side toward the monitor, it would act as a smoked layer in coctail mode.
When flipped up, the shiny side should reflect the screen, much like a mirror--giving you the upright you're after.

If you just use a regular mirror, it will have to be in the up position when not in use, or will need to be removed completely, to use the cab as a cocktail.

[rackoon]

The window tint and acrylic is not a bad idea. This would be a lot lighter than glass.

    Yet, I don't care if the mirror is near the display. I planed on hanging it on the wall and lowering it at a 45 when necessary.

    The problem is that the player needs to sit low to take advantage of the 45 dagree mirror.

[NoOne=NBA=]

The problem is that the player needs to sit low to take advantage of the 45 dagree mirror.

Depends on how you do it.

Space Invaders Deluxe used a very similar system; but it had a slightly lit backdrop behind it.
That let you see the reflection of the monitor below, and still see the moon backdrop through the one-way glass they used.

[forbiddenlyrics]

What about using mirrored plexiglass? I've seen it used in a few PC mod projects and it seems like it would be a lot lighter than glass. I'm not really sure of where to get it but I'm sure a local plastics place like TAPP would have it or know where to get it.

[Xiaou2]

 I do not get the question.

 Why is the weight of the mirror a problem?  If you sandwhich it between blocks of wood, with a nice dual railing.. it will sit fine.

 Maybe you are saying that, because you want to remove the mirror at times?

  If you build an enclosure with the mirror - I would think that it would be just fine for all games all the time.   

  However, I think the main problem you are having is because its not the right type of mirror.   Most mirrors have a reflective coating on the rear of the glass..  but this creates  more of a distant effect.. and also a ghosting of the images. 

  But they also make optical quality mirrors, that have the reflective surface on the front of the glass... that is what youd want idealy.  Though I have no clue as to where youd find it - nor how expensive it may be.

 The one way mirrors may also have the coating on the front.. but im not certain of it.

 Anything thats not a true glass mirror may be more inclinded to show a warped picture thats slightly distorted and less vibrant a picture.

 You could also buy a mini wheel, and or even lower it a tad.  Or you could use a spinner to control the driving games... yet still use an analog pedal set.

[rackoon]

I was hoping to get something light that I could slide down behind the wall and the cab when not in use.
   
   I can't hang it on the wall permanently because there is already framed art work in that spot. Furthermore, It would look silly hanging at a 45 angle, when not in use. Also, from my early testing of a PC monitor and an a old mirror, the bottom of the mirror must sit about a foot above the table. I could see one of my drunk friends busting my glass table top, monitor, and mirror while trying to hang the sucker.
   
   I think Plexiglas with a mirror coating sounds right. Its durable and light, yet I think it might dim the image slightly. I might even be able to make something out of plastic from Tapp that could sit on the cab. Maybe could make it pivot like my wife's makeup mirror to adjust for different height people. Hell, I might even put lighting on it.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Hell, I might even put lighting on it.

Lighting is a really bad idea.
It will make the reflected image seem even dimmer.

[AlanS17]

Why do you want something removeable? Just put it on a hinge across the back side so that it lifts up into place when we need it and lays back down to double as the cocktail glass top when your'e not?